Writing device



Oct. l, 1929. H,.|, MORRlS 1,729,791 o WRITING DEVICE Original FiledDeo. 29, 1921 Patenten oci. 1, 1929v UNITED sTATEs PATENT oi- F'icEHOWARD I. MORRIS, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO, .AssIoNon TO THE nonna` PENCILcoin- PANY, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, a CORPORATION or OHIO l WRITING DEVICEoriginel application med December 29,1921, serial No. 525,585. Divide-aand this application inea.

November 17, 1924.

pencil of this type having a self feeding writing element or lead.

Another object'of the lnvention 1s to pro- 1o vide an improved pencilvinwhich means are provided of automatically f eedingthe-writing element orlead endwise relative to the holder or body portion of the devlce Otherobjects of the invention will be ap- 15 parent to those skilled in theart to which my invention relates from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, 1 is a longitudinal 2o sectional view of a writ-tingdevice or pencil embodying my invention. l

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryelevation. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views. Fig. 6v is a sectionalViewillustrating the operation of feedingthe lead forward.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section illustrating the position of certainelements when a new lead is -being inserted.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of In the drawings-1c indicates abody or holder preferably comprising a barrel, cylinder or shell 27having at one end a tapered or conical member 3. 'The conical member 3is r formed with a bore 34", its inner end serving as a stop 3 for apurpose to be later set forth.

Theadjoining ends of the barrel 2 and member 3 are cut away so that theinner end ofA the conical member may it within the barrel, beingpreferably screw-threaded' therein as shown. 5 indicates a guide elementfor the writ-y ing element or lead, 6. The guide element 5 is slidablymounted in the tapered member 3 and is operated endwise to eilectlfeeding of the writing element or lead 6 in the manner to be later setforth. The bore of the guide element is of proper size to receive andsupport a lead 6 but to contact with the lead with Fig. 7.'

Serial No. 750,278.

sufficient friction to move the' lead with it in the manner to be laterdescribed.

28 indicates a collar element 5 provided on the guide and arranged toengage the stop 3 for limiting the outward movement of the guide element5, as well as the writing clement 6.

29 indicates formed integrally an extension preferably with the guideelement 5.

The extension 29 is preferably formed with a bore similiar in size ltothe bore of the guide element.

40 indicates a support or bearin member l'stationarily mounted withinthe arrel `2,

preferably substantially midway between its ends. The support 40preferably Vcomprises coincidenty with the axis of the .barrel 2.

The inner or upper .end .of the extension 29 this integral memsupporting ena cylindrical member the axis/Of which is y of thecylindrical member 40. As the guide element '5 and extension 29 areformed integrally, the cylindrical membr 4.0 supports one end of er andthe tapered member 3 supports its other end tO guide them as they vmove` longitudinally, inwardly and outwardly, in the manner to be laterset forth..

28 indicates a supplemental collar surrounding the extension 29.

8 indicates a 'spring/preferably coiled around the eXtension 29 andengaging the collar 28 at one end and` at its opposite end engaging thecylin'drical member 40. The spring 8 tends to move the extension 29 andguide element 5 outwardly and normally to maintain the collar 28 againstthe stop 3.

7"y indicates afeed member -arranged to.

feed the lead 6 forwardly. The feed meml berpreferably comprises a rodslidably fittin and extending thru the extension 29 an at its lowerendengaging the inner end of the lead 6.

The feed member 7 erably provided with relatively line is prefannularserrations 7, as shown in Fig. 4, one purpose of which is. to insuresuiiicient frictional contact between the feed member 7 'and inner wallsof the extension 29 that it will move with the latter to effect the leadwhen the extension of a feeding of 29 moves out- Wardly. The feed member7c extends through the cylindrical member 40.

19c indicates as an entirety devices for controlling the feed of thefeed member 7c. The control devices 19c comprises a clutch ring 41preferably pivoted at one side in a recess 42 formed in the support 40and a spring 43 normally tending to maintain the ring 41 in clutchingengagement with the feed member 7 c. As shown in the drawings, theopposite sides of the inner wall of the clutch ring l41 are inclinedrelative to its axis .to form knife-like edges, which lock againstopposite sides of the feed member when ythe ring is swung in onedirection about its pivot, to prevent rearward movement'of the feedmember, but to permit free movement thereof inthe opposite direction.The spring 48 is an expansion spring and is arranged to engage the ring41 at that side opposite to its pivot, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. As thespring 43 maintains the knife edges of the ring 41 in operativeengagement with the feed member 7c, the latter is always locked againstrearward movement. The support 40 is formed with a recess 44 at thatside opposite to the recess 42 to receive the spring 43 and the adjacentend or edge of the ring 41.

In the form of construction illustrated, the guide element 5 andextension' 29e are maintained in their outward position, against thestop 3c', by the spring 8c. The lead 6c abuts the outer end of the feedmember 7, which, being locked by the clutch ring 41, prevents rearwardmovement of the lead. In the use of this form of construction I preferto keep both the lead 6c and outer end of the guide element 5 in contactwith the paper. As writing progresses and the lead wears awa theresulting pressure transmitted, longitudinally, or substantially so,through the holder toward the writing surface will cause the guideelement 5c to recede or move inwardly relative to the lead 6, againstthe tension of the 'spring 8, then -when the pressure is relieved, forexample by lifting of the holder lc in ending one word and commencinganother, the spring 8c will move the guide elementand extensionoutwardly to their normal position. Due to the frictionalv engagement ofthe lead and feedmember with the bores of the guide element andextension, both will be moved forwardly with the latter, thus causing afeeding of the lead. The annular serrations 7c (see Fig. 4) insurepositive engagement of the clutch ring 41 with the feed member 7 c.

18c indicates as an entirety devices for moving the clutch ringI 41 toand maintaining itinvan inoperative position, whereby a new lead 6c maybe inserted. in the guide element 5 and the feed member 7c positioned tofeed the lead forwardly. These devices preferably comprise the followinginstrumentalities; 45 indicates a cylinder slid'ably supported at oneend within the upper portion of the cylindrical member 40 and providedwith a collar 46. The cylinder 45 is preferably of the same size fromend toend to simplify the construction and enable it to serve as a guideand support for the upper end of the feed member 7C. 47 indicates acoiled spring interposed between the cylindrical member 40 and thecollar 46 and normally acting-on the latter to move the cylinder 45rearwardly, but permitting movement of the cylinder forwardly. 48indicates a head or cap rotatably and slidably fitting the rear end ofthe barrel 2 to close it. The inner end of the head 48 is formedv with arecess 49 in which the rear end of the cylinder45 is secured in anydesired manner. 50 indicates a lug projecting from the forward end ofthe cylinder 45 and arranged to cngage the clutch ring 41 on that sideopposite to its pivot to move it against the tension of thespring 3 toan inoperative position. Accordingly, if the cylinder 45 is moved-endwise the lng 50 will swing the ring 41 to the position shown in Fig.7, and release the feed member 7, whereupon the latter may be movedinwardly. The head 48 is preferably connected to the inner wall of thebarrel 2c by devices 18 which effect movement of the head and cylinder45'longitudinally ofthe barrel when it is rotated. The devices 18Cpreferably comprise a pair of curved grooves 51 formed in the barrelwalland pins 52 projecting from the opposite sides of the head 48 into thegrooves. It will be seen that if the head is rotated, the walls of thegrooves 51 acting on the pins 52 will causethe head to move inwardly,thus effecting an endwise movement of the cylinder 45. The pins may bemaintained in their respective operative position in the grooves 51 by aspring 58 interposed between them. The outer end of the head 48 may beformed with a recess to 4removably 'support a piece of rubber 54.

hand of the writer or user. By controlling and operating the feedingmechanism as described, lthe' user is saved thevannoyance of stoppinghis work to manipulate the lead as is required in all pencils of which Ihave knowledge.

The pencil-is particularly advantageous where continuous writing isrequired or llt) llfi

where the writing must be effected rapidly, as in taking dictation inshorthand. A

By feeding the lead automatically, as writing takes place, duetopressure of the hand in 'writing with the pencil, great convenience isafforded the writeras no attention is needed to maintain sufficient leadat the writing' end of the pencil for continuedlwriting.

It will further be seen that new leads may be inserted in a simplemanner and without the necessity of disassembly to any of the elements.j

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, manyalterations and constructions and widely differing embodiments andapplications of the invention will sug-- gest themselves withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures anddescription herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be inany sense limiting;

This application is a division of my applilcation filed December 29,1921, Serial No.

" `inoperable at will.

y of said body and movably supported there- What I claim is:

1. A pencil comprisingva body having a lead projecting from one endthereof, means for supporting and automatically feeding said leadoutwardly, and means operable from the other end of said body formaintaining said feeding means inoperableA at' will. L

2. A pencil comprising a body having a lead projecting from one vendthereof to permit writing, means automatically operable as w'ritingprogresses for feeding said lead outwardl and means arranged 'to en,-gage said fee 'ng means to maintain them 3. In 'a pencil, thecombinationof a body, a pair of relatively movable elements projectingfrom one end thereof andengageable with a surface as writing progresses,one said element comprising a lead and the otherelement comprising atube through which `the lead is movable endwise, means operable by -themovement of said tubel relative to said lead due to'wearing of thelatter during writing, to feed the lead outwardly, and means formaintaining said feed 'means inoperative at will'.

41. In a pencil, the combination of Ia body adapted to' support asection of lead with its outer end projectingfrom one end of said body,an element projecting from one end in, a spring arranged yto permitinward movement of said element relativeto said lead, means actuated vbythe inwardmovement of said element relative to said lead due to wearingof the latteras writing progresses .to feed the lead outwardly, andmeans for maintaining said feed means inoperative at wille;n f

5. In apencil, the combination of a hollow body, a support thereinintermediate its ends, i

a pair of axially arranged tubular elements slidably mounted at theirinner. ends in said support and each extending to a point near theadjacent end of said-body and movable inwardly, springs tending to movesaid elements in opposite directions, one of said elements being adaptedto hold a section of lead and a feed member for said lead mounted `inand frictionally engaging the inner-walls of the element in which thelead is mounted, and means disposed in said support between the innerends of said elements for locking said feed member against movementinwardly, and arranged to be engaged by the other ele- ,ment when it ismoved toward said locking means.

7. The combination with a pencil casing,

of aJ feeding device capable of propelling a lead, a tube capable iofcarrying the lead, .said

tube being arranged to protrude from the writing end of said casing and'respond to efforts which tend tb move it lengthwise, operatingmechanism arrangedto effect a propelling action to said feeding devicethrough reciprocating movement ofv said tube, and resilient means, saidresilient means being arranged to counteract inward movement of saidtube relative to said casing, to yield to said inward movement when saidtube is subjected to the iniuence of normal writingA pressure, and toreact with sufficient force to retrieve said tube when said pressure isremoved.

8. The combinationwith a pencil casing, of a feedingdevice capableofpropelling a lead, operating mechanism for saidfeedlng device, saidoperating mechanism being arranged to induce said propelling action insaid feeding device through movement thereof relative to said casing,means for retrieving said movement of said operating mecha-y nism, andcontrolling means connected to said 'mechanismfand exposed at thewriting end of said casing,`said`controlling means being arranged tomove relative to said casing when .under the influence of" normalwriting pressure and impart movement to said mechanism.

of aufeeding device capable o propelling'a lead, operating mechanism forsaid feeding device, said operating ,mechanism being ar' lio- Thecombination with a fpencil casing, I

ranged to induce said propelling action in sa1d feedmg devlce throughmovement thereyof relative to said casing, and controlling meansconnected to said mechanism and eX- posed at the writing.,r end of saidcasing, said cont-rolling means being arranged .to move relative to saidcasing whenunder the influence of normal writing pressure and impartmovement to said mechamsm.

l0. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a casing,of a tubular member slidably mounted in said casing and projectingbeyond the writing'end thereof for engagement with the writing surfaceand 'slidably supporting a lead and a rod engaging the lead at its rearend, a spring tending to move said tubular member outwardly andresisting inward movement thereof under the influencev of normal writingpressure, means between said rod and tubular member serv ing as aconnection therebetween' to insure movement of said rod and feeding ofthe lead when said tubular member moves outwardly under the influence ofsaid spring, and a clutch for preventing inward movement of said rodwhen said tubular member moves inwardly but permitting outward movementthereof.

In testimony whereof, have hereunto subscribedmy name.

HOWARD 1. MORRIS.

